I was just beginning to congratulate myself on my success, when I saw that the nun appeared insensible, and about to fall from her chair.  I caught her in my arms, and leaned her back in the chair, but I did not dare to lay her on the bed, without permission, even if I had strength to do it.  I could only draw her chair to the side of the room, put a stick of wood under it, and let her head rest against the wall.  I was very much frightened, and for a moment, thought she was dead.  She was pale as a corpse, her eyes closed, and her mouth wide open.  Had I really killed her?  What if the Superior should find her thus?  I soon found that she was not dead, for her heart beat regularly, and I began to hope she would get over it before any one came in.  But just as the thought passed my mind, the door opened and the Superior appeared.  Her first words were, “What have you been burning?  What smells so?” I told her there was a cloth about the sink that I thought unfit for use, and I put it under the caldron.  She then turned towards the nun and asked if she had fainted.  I told her that I did not know, but I thought she was asleep, and if she wished me to awaken, and assist her to bed, I would do so.  To this she consented, and immediately went up stairs again.  Glad as I was of this permission, I still doubted my ability to do it alone, for I had little, very little strength; yet I resolved to do my best.  It was long, however, before I could arouse her, or make her comprehend what I said, so entirely were her senses stupified with the brandy.  When at length I succeeded in getting her upon her feet, she said she was sure she could not walk; but I encouraged her to help herself as much as possible, told her that I wished to get her away before any one came in, or we would be certainly found out and punished.  This suggestion awakened her fears, and I at length succeeded in assisting her to bed.  She was soon in a sound sleep, and I thought my troubles for that time were over.  But I was mistaken.  In my fright, I had quite forgotten the brandy in her dress.  Somehow the bottle was cracked, and while she slept, the brandy ran over her clothes.  The Superior saw it, and asked how she obtained it.  Too noble minded to expose me, she said she drew it herself.  I heard the Superior talking to a priest about it, and I thought they were preparing to punish her.  I did not know what she had told them, but I did not think she would expose me, and I feared, if they punished her again, she would die in their hands.

I therefore went to the Superior and told her the truth about it, for I thought a candid confession on my part might, perchance, procure forgiveness for the nun, if not for myself.  But no; they punished us both; the nun for telling the lie, and me for getting the brandy.  For two hours they made me stand with a crown of thorns on my head, while they alternately employed themselves in burning me with hot irons, pinching, and piercing me with needles, pulling my hair, and striking me with sticks.  All this I bore very well, for I was hurt just enough to make me angry.